Kajitani Primed for Olympic Club Test

San Francisco, United States: Eight weeks after etching her name into golf’s record books, teenager Tsubasa Kajitani returns to action on American soil seeking further international headlines.

It was in early April that the 17-year-old Japanese stunned the golfing world when she edged Wake Forest All-American Emilia Migliaccio in a sudden-death playoff to claim victory in the 2021 Augusta National Women's Amateur.

Thanks to that performance, Kajitani was granted an exemption into the 76th US Women’s Open Championship which tees-off at The Olympic Club on Thursday.

Having indicated an intention to turn pro this year, Kajitani will be keen to add to her CV the low amateur award at the US Open and follow in the footsteps of Thai Patty Tavatanakit, who claimed the accolade in 2018.

“She’s a quiet and determined girl, and has a drive that is quite unique. She’s taking English lessons and when she gains some confidence in her language skills she’ll probably start to push towards an international career,” said Australian Gareth Jones, the Japan Golf Association’s Head Coach who’s been working with Kajitani for the past three years.

Kajitani, 16th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is one of the 30 amateurs in the 156-strong field, that comprises 11 US Open champions and 19 of the top 20 players in the world.

As a 15-year-old, Kajitani finished joint 17th in the second edition of the Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur in her home country in early 2019. That year, she was runner-up at the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship and tied for ninth in the Japan Women’s Open.

Her good form continued last year when she was runner-up at the Avondale Amateur in Australia and appeared in three Japan LPGA Tour events.